Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-07
LACK OF PROPER EXITS
Caused Great Loss Of Life ut the Burn.
ing Of the Exeter Theater-lnQuesl
Over the Victims Commenced.

The destruction Of the Theater Royal at Exeter
was literal repetition OF the Brooklyn Theater
horror, the scenes attending the burning OF the
Opera ComiQue in Paris the terrible Ring Theater
disaster In Vienna and long list Of similar catas-
tropics that human foresight and ingenuity and
a decent regard for the safety OF life might have
rendered impossible or at least remotely probable
1t was claimed for the theater that IL possessed
all the latest improvements and accessories for
the presentation OF frSt-claSS entertainments and
its proprietOrs and managers were able TO boast
that its stage would amply accommodate the hun
dreds OF actors necessary to the production OF a
spectacular play, yet when through oarelessness
the tmperfectfOn or the gas and scenic arrange
mentS the building took IRE the occupants or the
gallery were compelled TO seek escape
By MEANS or A SINGLE EXIT,
comprising stairway not sufficiently wide for
three persons to walk abreast. There could be
only one result OF an attempt 10y panic-stricken
crowd to force itself through this channel into the
open air, and that was reached Immediately. IL
ought not TO be difficult 10 locate the criminal
SponSibiity for failure TO provide adequate means
OF exit from the place, but already the blame Is
being shifted from the shoulders OF TO another
and It would not be surprising II all the guilty
persons should ultimately succeed In evading the
consequences OF their neglect. The London thea
tiers suffered marked decrease OF receipts last
night, and it Will be some time before the more
tiinid theater-goers viii venture TO resume their
habit OF visiting crowded piayhouses None OF
BLACKENED AND CHARRED CORPsEs
that are still lying side by side In the stable near
the ruins OF the theater at Exeter have yet been
identified, and IL Is likely that nearly all OF them
will be buried as strangers, possibly by persons
who knew them intimately In life but who are un-
able TO distinguish q Semblance OF their former
friends In the revolving trunks and fragments OF
flesh that escaped the Jury OF the flames. The In
quest over the victims was begun yesterday.
Crowds OF mourning relatives were present The
coroner intimated that It was desirable for saui-
tary reasons that general order for burial be i'm
mediately issued. IL was impossible 70 identity
many OF the bodies. The jury simply viewed the
remains. A public funeral Will be held to-day. A
relief fund has been opened. Capt. Shaw, who is
visiting Exeter says that the fire spread with such
rapidity, owing to the abundance OF innammable
material that no help from the outside would
have Done any good. The fre brtgades spared no
effort, but 1t would DO better II they were placed
under one control
THE QUEEN HAS SENT MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY
to the sufferers 1t has been ascertained that In
the rush q ticket box was upset at the gallery
exit and this was the cause OF the blockade at
that point The remains OF nearly dirty persons
were found there. Most OF the bodies are COM
pletely reduced TO ashes. kilograms or coincidence
have been received from NJ. Northcote N. p, and
Wilson Barrett the actor.